Issue 14: The Wonders of Nature

NO. 14

THE WONDERS OF NATURE

PS MAGA ZINE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016 ISSUE 14

Beehive Queen

Margaret Vinci Heldt

National Geographic’s Rarely Seen Boost Your Immunity Winter Birding

THE WONDERS OF NATURE January/February 2016 Issue 14

FEATURES

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Queen of the Beehive Margaret Vinci Heldt

by CHRISTINA BURNS

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Winter Birding Is the Best

by MELISSA MAYNTZ

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Paradise Found: Filling Your Home With Life and Color

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Wonders Never Cease: National Geographic’s Rarely Seen, Photographs of the Extraordinary Right: People swimming in a frozen lake in Scandinavia, February, 1972.

PHOTO BY FOX PHOTOS/GETTY IMAGES

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DEPARTMENTS

IN EVERY ISSUE

6 Remember When

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10 Did You Know?

48 Books: The Past

by Tessa Hadley

12 Health & Wellness:

Boost Immunity in Winter 16 Dr. Lori: The Importance

of Intergenerational Relationships 18 Life with The Eden Alternative:

It’s Better to Live in a Garden

Letter from the Publisher

49 Fun & Games 52

for (Grand) Children

56 Horoscopes 60 Puzzle Solutions 64 The Last Laugh

22 Tip of the Hat:

For the Love of Soaps 3

LE T TE R FROM THE PUBLI SHE R

H

appy New Year! We at PS Lifestyle are thrilled to welcome our readers back for another year of inspiring interviews and the refreshing, energizing content we strive to deliver within each issue of PS Magazine.

We’re very excited to kick off 2016 by introducing you to the “Beehive Queen” Margaret Vinci Heldt. Celebrating her 99th year, Ms. Vinci Heldt is a descendant of another iconic trend-setter whom you already know: Leonardo da Vinci! Currently “loving where she’s at” within one of our partner communities in Elmhurst, Illinois, she is best known for her innovative Beehive hairstyle contribution to cosmetology and, in turn, women’s style and fashion the world over. Ms. Vinci Heldt sat down with PS Magazine and shared her thoughts on living exceptionally, loving her family, and enjoying all the stages of her life—her interview begins on page 26 of this issue.

Walter Backerman also returns in this issue with another “Tip of the Hat,” proving yet again that his family’s seltzer delivery business in New York City provides incredibly unique access to some of our culture’s most popular celebrities. Fans of the televised soap opera era in the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s will certainly enjoy Walter’s experiences behind the scenes on the sets of All My Children and One Life to Live.

Finally, this issue’s Winter Birding is the Best, Paradise Found, and Wonders Never Cease articles are full of stunning images and some very practical seasonal information. Those of us who draw inspiration from nature and the wonders of the world around us will especially appreciate the visual contribution from our friends at National Geographic Society. Please take advantage of some of that winter sunlight and enjoy PS Magazine issue 14 at your leisure!

Sincerely,

John Polatz Publisher and CEO 4

PS Lifestyle CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

John Polatz CO-FOUNDER

Scott Fisher

MAGA ZINE

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT

PUBLISHER AND CEO

VICE PRESIDENT — ADMINISTRATION & LICENSING

Shelley Kondas

John Polatz

Susan Polatz

EDITOR IN CHIEF

VICE PRESIDENT — FINANCE & ACCOUNTING

Christina Burns

Ranae Lewis

ART DIRECTOR

VICE PRESIDENT — TECHNOLOGY

Elle Chyun

Brandon Crafts

EDITORS AT LARGE

VICE PRESIDENT — BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Dr. Lori Stevic-Rust Laura Beck, The Eden Alternative CONTRIBUTORS

Katherine Adams Walter Backerman Melissa Mayntz

Brian Goetz VICE PRESIDENT — BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

PS Magazine is published by PS Lifestyle LLC 55 Public Square Suite 1180 Cleveland, OH 44113 Phone: (440) 600-1595 Fax: (440) 848-8560 © 2016 PS Lifestyle LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is prohibited.

To order a subscription or to distribute PS Magazine at your business, contact info@pslifestyle.com Cover: Photograph of Margaret Vinci Heldt

by Associated Press/ Caryn Rousseau

Kristin Hinkson DIRECTOR — PROCUREMENT & LOGISTICS

Kenish Patel DIRECTOR — HUMAN RESOURCES

Debra Moore

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POP CULTURE, NEWS, AND EVENTS FROM PAST DECADES

Remember When...

1936

1946

The musical comedy film Strike Me Pink, starring Eddie Cantor and Ethel Merman, opened in theaters.

Tupperware food containers were first introduced in department and hardware stores.

PHOTO: JOHN KOBAL FOUNDATION/GETTY IMAGES

Actress Fanny Brice first appeared as her character Baby Snooks on the radio program Ziegfeld Follies of the Air. PHOTO: GEORGE GRANTHAM BAIN COLLECTION (LIBRARY OF CONGRESS)

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PHOTO: COURTESY OF THE SMITHSONIAN ARCHIVES CENTER, NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AMERICAN HISTORY OR COURTESY OF TUPPERWARE CORPORATION

The Roosevelt dime was introduced, replacing the Mercury dime, on the birthday of the late President Franklin D. Roosevelt, in part to honor his contribution to founding the March of Dimes.

1956

Police arrested the men behind the famed 1950 Brinks Robbery in Boston, Massachusetts, just days before the statute of limitations expired.

1966 The television series “Batman,” starring Adam West and Burt Ward, debuted and was shown in twopart episodes on Wednesday and Thursday evenings.

PHOTO: AP/TM & COPYRIGHT 20TH CENTURY FOX

PHOTO: ASSOCIATED PRESS

1976

Actresses Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams’ television sitcom “Laverne and Shirley” made its debut after spinning off of “Happy Days.”

PHOTO: ABC PHOTO ARCHIVES/ABC VIA GETTY IMAGES

Doubleday published comedian Phyllis Diller’s best-selling book, Phyllis Diller’s Housekeeping Hints.

Elvis Presley had his first music hit “Heartbreak Hotel” nearly a month after his first appearance on television on CBS’s Stage Show.

PHOTO: ASSOCIATED PRESS

Sara Jane Moore was sentenced to life in prison for her attempt to assassinate President Gerald Ford in San Francisco, California.

PHOTO: ASSOCIATED PRESS

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1986

1996

2006

Film actress Elizabeth Taylor filed for divorce from her eighth and final husband Larry Fortensky after five years of marriage.

The much-awaited Halley’s Comet made its 75-year return near Earth but disappointed when it was barely visible to the naked eye.

PHOTO: AP PHOTO/RICHARD DREW

PHOTO: NASA

The Sago Mine Disaster, a coal mine explosion near Buckhannon, West Virginia, left twelve miners dead and only one survivor.

PHOTO: ASSOCIATED PRESS

Dancer, actor, and choreographer Gene Kelly died at his home in Beverly Hills, California.

PHOTO: ASSOCIATED PRESS

NFL team the Chicago Bears, who recorded the song, “The Super Bowl Shuffle,” became the champions of Super Bowl XX. PHOTO: AP PHOTO/NFL PHOTOS

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TV talk show host Oprah Winfrey confronted author James Frey about fabrications in his memoir, A Million Little Pieces.

Remember When...

The Space Shuttle Challenger Broke Up

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n January 28, 1986, the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster occurred shortly after launching from Kennedy Space Center, resulting in the deaths of its sevenperson crew that included Christa McAuliffe, the first civilian and teacher to travel into space. Ms. McAuliffe was selected to join the crew as part of NASA’s Teachers in Space program, where she was to deliver two 15-minute lessons to millions of schoolchildren via close-circuit television during the mission.

Originally, Challenger was scheduled to launch six days earlier but was delayed due to severe weather and technical issues. On the morning of the fateful launch, just 73 seconds from liftoff, Challenger broke apart after an explosion of fuel and the crew compartment plummeted into the ocean.

Later that evening, President Ronald Reagan, already scheduled to deliver his annual State of the Union address, gave a national address from the Oval Office regarding the tragedy and paid tribute to the crewmembers.

Above: Challenger disintegrated shortly after liftoff.

PHOTO: NASA

Left: (front row) Michael J. Smith, Dick Scobee, Ronald McNair; (back row) Ellison Onizuka, Christa McAuliffe, Gregory Jarvis, Judith Resnik.

PHOTO: NASA

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?

DID YOU KNOW Love Birds

Blue-capped cordon bleu African finches have an unusual courting ritual. Recently, scientists have discovered that in addition to bobbing and singing, both males and females perform a type of tap dance to attract the opposite sex, a behavior that has never been observed before in birds. The dancing was noted recently when viewing high-speed footage since it is not possible to detect this movement with the human eye. Researchers believe that the dancing may be a display of health and fitness.

Scandinavians choose to embrace winter rather than simply enduring it. The Danish term hygge (pronounced “hooga”) means “well-being”. It is the practice of creating a cozy, intimate environment and surrounding yourself and others, allowing for the feeling of conviviality and contentment when the weather is cold and the darkness is omnipresent.

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PHOTOS: ISTOCK PHOTO, JUSSI PERNAA/123RF

The Art of Hygge

Fascinating Facts to Know and Tell February 29

PHOTOS: CHRIS BOSWELL/123RF, DMITRY KNORRE/123RF

Nuts for Water Nuts use a whole lot of water. It takes about a gallon of water to grow one almond, and nearly five gallons to grow one walnut. Almond farming has almost doubled in the past ten years with the average American now eating two pounds per year. Almonds are California’s top agricultural export. The state produces 80% of the world’s almonds and 43% of the world’s walnuts.

We can thank Julius Caesar and the Greek astronomer, Sosigenes of Alexandria, for creating February 29. It takes 365.2422 days for Earth to orbit the Sun, and calendars need to be synchronized to account for that extra fraction of a day. Before the Julian calendar was introduced in 46 BC, the Roman calendar was observed, consisting of 355 days and an extra 22-day month occurring every two years. Julius Caesar ordered Sosigenes to improve the calendar, which became a 365-day year with an extra day every four years to account for the extra hours. Since February was the last month in the Roman calendar, it made sense to add the extra day in February in the Julian calendars.

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HEALTH & WELLNESS

BOOSTING IMMUNITY IN WINTER

by KATHERINE ADAMS

W

hat is the best way for us to protect ourselves from sicknesses this winter?

Does taking supplements really help ward against colds and flu? What else can we do to keep from getting sick? These questions are even more important as we age, since research has shown that older adults are more likely to contract viruses and secondary infections as the immune system loses its effectiveness (a lowered production of T-cells and

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less efficient bone marrow are the culprits). Additionally, research on mice has revealed that the white blood cells in younger mice remain alive longer, whereas not only do older mice’s white blood cells die off sooner, they don’t always “recognize” disease when they encounter it. Not every aging person experiences a noticeably compromised immune response, but certainly most of us are more susceptible to illnesses or

experience more complications because of them as to warrant some thoughts about how to keep our immune systems strong.

Although there are a lot of products out there promising to boost the immune system, it is best to be cautious. So far, research cannot fully address what exactly happens at a cellular level when our bodies attack sicknesses. Our bodies naturally produce a spectrum of disease-fighting cells to react to foreign microbes, and dispose of the excess of these cells when no longer needed. This tells us that it is not necessarily safe to overload the blood with more of these cells when we’re healthy.

Moreover, scientists have not pinpointed how many cells are required and of what kinds the body needs at any given time, either when fighting sicknesses or when our immune systems are lowered due to other factors.

There is enough evidence, however, to claim that a healthy lifestyle improves immune response, suggesting that focusing on diet and exercise should remain at the forefront of keeping the immune system functioning

“A healthy lifestyle improves immune response, suggesting that focusing on diet and exercise should remain at the forefront of keeping the immune system functioning properly.” properly. Nutrition is very important, and many older adults are surprisingly lacking in some essential vitamins and minerals due to a less varied diet or a weaker appetite. This means that multivitamin supplements could be beneficial, and consultation with a geriatric nutritionist might be worth it if you believe you’re not eating enough nutrients in your regular diet. Some form of gentle exercise daily keeps the body’s immune systems healthy. So even if it’s winter outside, don’t neglect this crucial component to your health. Perhaps an indoor mall could be a warm place to take a walk, or your local Y may have an indoor pool.

There are some specific foods and supplements that are purported 13

as helping the immune system.

Citrus is packed with vitamin C and believed to increase the number of white blood cells and fight infections. Vitamin C cannot be produced or stored by the body, so it is very important to include it in daily intake. But don’t worry about getting bogged down in tangerines this winter. Red bell peppers have twice as much as citrus fruits, and broccoli has vitamin C as well as vitamins A and E. Japanese mushrooms are an immunity booster and garlic has been shown effective in fighting infection and helping lower cholesterol. So, try a soup or stir fry with shiitake mushrooms and garlic. Throw in some cruciferous vegetables like cabbage and broccoli to boost liver function. A side of avocados adds healthy fats and essential amino acids, and ginger tea will help clear away body toxins. Ginger has long been held in Asian medicines as a body and lymphatic cleanser. Warm ginger tea is also a nice way to soothe the body on a cold winter day.

While it is best to be wary of the so-called immune boosters, there are known benefits to key vitamins and supplements. Vitamin D, the 14

“sunshine vitamin,” is something almost all of us are deficient in, especially in winter, and yet many argue that it is essential to the body’s immune system. Blood tests can show an individual’s level of vitamin D and might be a good subject to discuss with your healthcare provider. A supplement that offers protection for cells and anti-inflammatory benefits are Omega-3 fatty acids, which also help vitamin D work optimally.

Additionally, taking care of the gut has become increasingly the focus for scientific research into the body and its immune response, and supplementing with high quality, freeze-dried probiotics is an easy way to start regaining intestinal health. There are the old stand-bys, too, like zinc, which is often offered along with vitamin C in lozenges as a means to shorten respiratory infections. Echinacea is well documented as an immune builder. The best methods of taking Echinacea are still debated, though it does not seem to have adverse effects unless one has a ragweed allergy.

There are a number of practical things one can do to keep well

this winter, too. If your doctor recommends it, get a flu shot. Even though the efficacy of the vaccine wanes with age, statistically those who have had the flu shot are less likely to become very sick from the illness. Along with eating well and making time for exercise, drink lots of water and get plenty of rest.

Wash your hands frequently, carry your own pens so you don’t have to use the common ones at the bank or grocery store, and keep sanitizing wipes on-hand for grocery carts, phones, and other things that are frequently touched

by others or by your own unwashed hands. And believe it or not, thinking positively and not becoming overly worried or anxious—as much as possible— is very important. Stress weakens the immune response, so don’t let the little things get to you. It is also vital to keep up with social activities and relationships, since becoming too isolated also weakens the immune system.

Lastly, laughing boosts immunity, too. Even during the gloomy winter months, keep up your sense of humor! ■

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Doctor Lori Stevic-Rust

The Importance of Intergenerational Relationships

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n 1963, psychologist Erik Erikson described the psychosocial stages of development to reflect the needs of the individual and of society as we move throughout our aging process. At each stage of our development, there are milestones to accomplish and tasks to be completed. In the middle of our life during adulthood, there is a focus on establishing ourselves in a career and developing intimate relationships. However, flanked on either end of the spectrum is where childhood and senior years reside. These are stages that focus on living in the moment with experiences that involve learning to trust and cultivating a sense of purpose. This seems to be the shared experiences of our seniors and our youth. Both live more in the moment and tend to reflect more on experiences rather than outcomes. This is the common fertile ground that can be shared— when we put seniors and children together then each benefits.

Programs in schools, senior communities, or homes that intentionally bring together different generations are referred to as intergenerational programs. These programs view interactions as reciprocal and mutually beneficial to all who participate. Intergenerational programs can involve mentoring of seniors to children through one-on-one programs or relying on seniors as volunteers in child care centers or schools. Children and adolescents can also participate in shared art and community projects in senior housing facilities, churches, or senior centers.

The combined wisdom, experiences, and unique perspective that seniors can bring to children and young adults is unprecedented. Similarly, the benefits that our older adults reap when interacting with younger people is equally valuable.

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For the young, we know they crave undivided attention and seniors are able to provide it as they tend to have more uninterrupted time to offer. A grandparent role model gives children and adolescents a safe place to share thoughts, worries, and fears without the judgment and directives often provided by parents. Children who are actively involved in multigenerational families and communities tend to feel better about themselves and are more altruistic in nature.

The opportunity to interact with seniors affords children a chance to learn historical and civic life lessons through a living example.

These children tend to become more civic-minded, tolerant of differences, and able to break through stereotypical barriers related to aging biases. Research has demonstrated that when children have the influence of several generations, they are more likely to stay in school, less likely to participate in bullying activities, and are more actively involved in their communities.

Research has found that when seniors interact with children they tend to experience better overall cognitive functioning as seen by

performance on memory tests, experience fewer falls, and enjoy overall better health. Depression and social engagement among seniors is improved more through interaction with children than any other social and recreational activity. In addition, seniors report greater sense of purpose, and improved self-worth and engagement when they are reminiscing and sharing cultural experiences with children.

There are benefits to the brain as well. When seniors interact with children who may be teaching them new skills such as computer or technology skills or contemporary life experiences, new neurons are formed in the brain. The brain remains active and engaged, which can be protective from some of the decline associated with aging.

Everyone benefits from pulling our generations together to learn from each other, teach each other, and advocate for one another.

Barriers, stereotypes, and biases are broken down when we bring our generations together. Life lessons are not simply reserved for seniors to pass to children but for children to share with seniors— a reminder of the value of human connection. ■17

LIFE WITH THE EDEN ALTERNATIVE

It’s Better to Live in a Garden

by LAURA BECK

W

hen Dr. Bill and Jude Thomas named the philosophy we teach The Eden Alternative, it wasn’t because they had a biblical agenda. Fond of powerful messages in general, they were inspired by what the Garden of Eden reveals about nature as our teacher. Let’s face it—it’s better to live in a garden. Gardens symbolize health, abundance, quality of life, the cycle of ongoing growth, and the inherent connectedness between all living things. The garden, as a metaphor, reminds us that no matter where we are on our journey as human beings, we are always growing and becoming.

In high school biology class, we learned about biodiversity and the strength and sustainability of a natural environment where different species coexist interdependently.

As human beings, the same is true of our daily lives. When our days are rich with a diversity of

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experiences and interactions, life takes on new meaning. When we have the opportunity to grow relationships with other creatures and people of different ages and abilities, we continue to flourish and grow ourselves—no matter how old we are or what challenges we may live with.

This is what The Eden Alternative calls a “human habitat”—a place where different people, and even different species, engage with one another in mutually supportive and empowering ways. The challenge, says Dr. Bill Thomas, co-founder of The Eden Alternative, is “to create a Human Habitat where beings of all ages come together day after day— eager and able to thrive, not just survive.” The difference between thriving and surviving almost always comes down to the quality of our relationships and the culture of our communities, no matter where they occur.

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ILLUSTRATION: © M. MUSGROVE

By definition, a Human Habitat can take root anywhere. It can be in your own home, a retirement community, on a neighborhood street, or in a nursing home. For the last fourteen years, my Human Habitat has been Ecovillage at Ithaca, a cohousing community in Upstate New York, where people of all ages live in, well, “supportive and empowering ways.”

Cohousing had its US debut in the late 1980s when Charles Durrett and Kathryn McCamant introduced the Scandinavian concept in their seminal book on the subject. The idea caught on, and today, there are now thousands of people living in cohousing communities across the country.

Blending elements of autonomy and community, cohousing is mainstream society’s answer to communal living. Shared facilities, such as vegetable gardens, play areas, greenhouses, and the Common House, serve as extensions of privately-owned homes. Residents gather in the Common House for meetings, celebrations, and optional common meals shared several times a week.

While cohousing is intergenerational 20

“Through community life, we have the opportunity to feel special, to be humbled, to sort out our differences, to accept the imperfections of others (not to mention, our own), to build on our strengths, and to learn from our blunders.” by design, there are also “elder cohousing communities.” Elderspecific cohousing embodies most of the benefits of its intergenerational counterpart and includes a few of its own. People who are interested in elder cohousing really want to change the current culture that surrounds aging. Emphasizing elderhood as a period of growth and reflection, elder cohousing may incorporate aspects of social activism, community service, and late-life spirituality in a supportive, peer-focused environment.

As an intergenerational community, Ecovillage at Ithaca has offered my family a unique and powerful place to grow and become.

Residents of different ages, backgrounds, and spiritual paths have come here around roughly two common values: a respect for the role of the natural world in our well-being and a desire to live intentionally as a community. Over the years, I’ve witnessed elders teaching youth about the land they live on and the necessity of responsible land stewardship. I’ve seen community members of all ages working together to clear invasive species from our 175 acres and replace them with orchards of native seedlings. I’ve been humbled by the courage of residents, young and old alike, who have fought sideby-side for water quality in our beautiful Finger Lakes. I’ve helped prepare community meals cooked with fresh vegetables from our own community–supported agriculture farm. And I’ve held the hand of an Elder neighbor in homage to the sunset, who, despite her journey with dementia, described the shifting hues of light like a gifted artist.

Through community life, we have the opportunity to feel special, to be humbled, to sort out our differences, to accept the imperfections of others (not to

mention, our own), to build on our strengths, and to learn from our blunders. Like the garden, we are a work in progress… ever evolving, sometimes challenging… always growing.

You warm the soil; you plant the seeds for what you wish to grow; tend them; and watch them grow.

It may take a while before you really reap a great harvest. You may encounter frost along the way.

When frost strikes, mourn your losses, warm the soil, and plant the seed again. Chances are, it will grow stronger than before.

Gardeners make mistakes. It is from these mistakes that we learn to become skillful gardeners.

The harvest hides within the tiny moments that make up everyday life.

— Dr. Bill Thomas, from The Eden Alternative Handbook ■ Laura Beck is the Learning and Development Guide for The Eden Alternative, an international, non-profit organization focused on creating quality of life for Elders and their care partners.

For more information about The Eden Alternative, go to www.edenalt.org.

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TIP OF THE HAT

For the Love of Soaps

by WALTER BACKERMAN

I

t was more than eighty years ago, back in the 1930s, when the term “soap opera” was coined to describe radio broadcasts produced and sponsored by companies of cleaning products. There had been a steadily increasing interest in soaps from their creation until their popularity peaked. By the late 1960s, there were 19 different soap operas on the air. Soap operas would eventually become lavish events on television that culminated in its zenith of popularity in 1981 when General Hospital, riding the wave of Luke and Laura’s romance, tallied an average of 14 million viewers with an astonishing 30 million tuning in to their wedding.

In their heyday, soap operas had a significant cultural impact with their socially relevant storylines. Some of the subjects that were broached in the process have had far-reaching social consequences. They also inspired similar productions abroad, especially in Latin countries where telenovelas are still enormously popular. As times, tastes, and lifestyles changed, the amount of soap operas airing has dwindled down precipitously to only four being broadcast today on mainstream television.

There are many reasons why soap operas have waned in popularity including a dwindling audience, a shift in demographics, and changing technology that allows soap fans to record their shows and watch them later while skipping over the commercials that gave them their name to begin with.

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It is also very costly to maintain expensive sets and pay an extensive list of cast members, directors, writers, crewmembers, and support staff to produce a professional production. I had the great honor to deliver seltzer to some of the crew and cast members of All My Children and One Life To Live and several years ago, I worked as a stage handler helping to construct and decorate the sets in the overnight hours for both shows. It was an unique experience that made me appreciate the incredible hard work involved in creating an everchanging, inter-evolving theme every day.

The sets were really quite extraordinary accomplishments.

Bright lights illuminated the area behind fake windows so that even at night it looked like noon. Carpenters hung huge backdrops that looked like tapestries in a museum with pictures of anything from cityscapes to the virgin forest. In the middle of the One Live To Live studio, I saw a 747 that was part of a crash scene.

At All My Children, they built a cruise ship that stayed up for weeks and cost $750,000 to make. Most of the scenes were fake with a very

Luke and Laura’s wedding (played by Anthony Geary and Genie Francis) took place on November 17, 1981 on General Hospital.

PHOTO BY BOB D’AMICO/ABC VIA GETTY IMAGES)

real structure behind them.

When we set up kitchen sets, the appliances were heavy and made of real metal. One day, we had to do a beach scene and filled huge plastic containers with water and used real sand and a wave machine—it really looked like a tropical paradise with the right lighting, foliage, and camera angle. Most sets were packaged up together in one unit after the shoot.

Each crate was marked and numbered, then taken via trucks to 23

a storage unit to be recalled for the show as needed or at times lent out to other ABC productions.

After I became involved with the soaps, I began watching taped episodes to get some fodder for conversation—I never knew who I would meet. One night as I watched a taped episode of All My Children with my wife, I asked her whose autograph she’d want. She was watching Cameron Mathison playing Ryan Lavery, lying shirtless in bed with Rebecca Budig, who played Greenlee. She laughed and said, “Him.” The next day, I took the elevator from the second floor dressing rooms to the third floor studios with three cases of seltzer on a hand-truck and as the elevator began to close, Cameron Mathison jumped on. I looked at him and said, without flinching an eye, “I don’t believe it, of all the people I’d meet it’s you, my wife’s secret boyfriend!”

He looked at me strangely until I explained what I was talking about.

One day my two sons, who were five and six at the time, were given a private tour of All My Children.

Joey had a child’s crush on Bianca (Eden Riegel) who played Erica Kane’s (Susan Lucci) daughter. She 24

was just getting off the set for lunch when she came by to meet Joey and Jonathan. On the show, she had been in a car accident and was hospitalized and wore what appeared to be blood-stained bandages. My boys panicked until she said, “Sweetie, it’s only catsup, don’t worry,” and Joey gave her a kiss on her cheek.

One day, I was leaving the studio and Mary Fickett, who played Ruth Martin, was leaving and looking for a cab so I gave her a lift in my van to her hotel. She thanked me and I said, “How many times do I get to have an Emmy award-winning actress for company?” She was actually the first actress to receive an Emmy Award for a daytime drama in 1973.

There were times when I helped some of the performers rehearse their scripts that changed daily. I found it to be an extraordinary feat to memorize lines in a script and then react and act on cue when the action began. I became good friends with Jack Scalia who, for a time, played Erica Kane’s boyfriend and they both got a nomination for the Daytime Emmy Awards.

I often think about the people I knew and wonder whatever became of them. In a soap opera, we watch

with anticipation as the plot unfolds, and then we find out. In real life, sometimes we can only imagine. Nathaniel Marston bought seltzer from me when he was on One Life To Life, and we became friends. He was strapping and young and would often carry home a heavy six-pack of seltzer. On the show, he died and they wrote him out of the story, but when his fans complained, he came back as a ghost, and then came back to life miraculously. On November 11, 2015, I turned on the news and was saddened to see he had died of injuries sustained in a car accident, and was only 40 years old. I wish they could miraculously bring him back to life.

On several wonderful occasions, I had the chance to have a few moments alone with David Canary, who played dual roles on All My Children. He also played the role of Candy on Bonanza after Pernell Roberts left the show. In early November, I watched an old episode on Bonanza and recalled David telling me that the show was made in color in 1959, which was expensive, but the producers insisted on it. On November 16,

The wedding of Adam Chandler and Erica Kane (David Canary and Susan Lucci) on All My Children.

PHOTO BY JOE MCNALLY/ABC VIA GETTY IMAGES)

2015, less than a week after Nathaniel died, David also passed away. I found it ironic. In life and in a soap opera, you never know when your character will be written out or when the show will end. The trick to survival is going to bed, looking forward to the next day, and hoping for the best. â– Walter Backerman is best known as Walter the Seltzer Man, a third generation seltzer delivery man in New York City. Walter has a great fondness for American history, particularly of the 20th century.

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by CHRISTINA BURNS

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M

argaret Vinci Heldt shares a similar creative touch with her famous ancestor: Leonardo da Vinci. In fact, to her knowledge, she is the last Vinci in the family tree. Born in the West Side of Chicago, Mrs. Heldt became an influential and famed hairstylist with a long list of awards and distinctions. Most famously, she is credited for designing the iconic Beehive hairstyle. The dramatic and glamorous hairdo has graced the heads of millions of women including movie stars and musical acts since it debuted in Modern Beauty Salon magazine in 1960. Over fifty years later, it continues to have its influence on fashion today. Her contribution to popular culture has earned her a place at the Chicago History Museum, which now has Mrs. Heldt’s cone-style velvet hat that first inspired her and her “Lady Bee” hair mannequin in its permanent collection. She also has a scholarship in her name and a place in the Hall of Fame in the Cosmetologists Chicago trade association.

Mrs. Heldt, who currently lives in Elmhurst, Illinois, took some time to have a conversation about her life and accomplishments with PS Magazine.

PS Magazine: Growing up during the Depression, you aspired to be a hairdresser. Tell us about how you accomplished that.

Margaret Vinci Heldt: We’ll start from the very beginning. I was born in Chicago, and when I was about 9 or 10 years old, one of our neighbors took me with her to a beauty shop. I was so fascinated—I saw so many women come in and by the time they went out they were beautiful. And I still get excited when I think of that moment. I thought, “I want to do something like that.” When I got back home, I asked my little next-door neighbor, “Francie, do you want to play beauty shop with me?’ I made a shop in the backyard. I got some starch from home and made up a batter and put it in her hair, and it worked so good. Then, I knew I could be a beauty operator someday. It was a hot day and her hair started to dry kind of white, so she went home and her mother asked what happened. She came over and went over to my mother. My mother must have been shocked and I was scared to death. It was a critical moment, my mother could have really destroyed my 27

dream and she asked [me] what I needed instead of the starch. She could have hollered at me, but instead she took a dollar out of her purse, which was a lot of money during the Depression, and told me to get what I needed, and to be very careful and use it right. That was one of my first adventures and I knew I wanted to be a hairdresser, and that was the beginning.

I got very lucky—I won a scholarship to the school of my choice [so I went to beauty school]. I had to work on a wig, one of these hair-pieces, since I needed to practice on hair. So my mother let me cut hers, and I sewed it on the machine, so I would be able to use that. My father loved my mother’s long hair; it was just gorgeous hair in those days. My father had to walk out [when I cut it]; that poor man was crying.

Here I was still in high school and I got a little job sweeping hair in a beauty shop. I didn’t get paid, I only got tips. At night, I would get a couple of dollars, and whatever I got I would give to my father. And he went out and bought the food for the next day.

I didn’t know we were poor, no way, none of us kids knew we were poor.

It was just the way things were. I had a happy childhood. My life has been a good life, all the way through.

PS: You opened your salon, Margaret Vinci Coiffures, on Michigan Avenue in Chicago in 1950. What challenges did you face being a female business owner at that time?

MVH: It was really very, very rare [to be a woman who owned a business]; women were actually expected to stay home and raise the children. And so it was very unusual. I was very fortunate—I happened to marry a man who instead of holding me down like the Italian husbands were doing, he was an American [laughs]. He was born from German descent and he didn’t like Italian cooking so it was a good thing, I never did learn how to cook because I used to go out and bring home money so we could have food on the table. And [my husband] was the best cook anybody could have asked for and he liked his cooking. So while I was out making money, he was taking care of the kids, a boy and a girl.

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I had the salon for about forty years. I was starting to make a name for myself and it was right after I came back from California, I had just won the United States [National Coiffure] championship for creative hairstyling when I heard about the salon being available. I tried to get all the money together so I could have it. And I got it; I was able to get the shop. It was wonderful! Isn’t that something?

That was right after the War. It was just about that time that I created the Beehive. Actually, I didn’t “create” it, God creates, I designed what He put into my hands.

[Years later] I’m on Michigan Avenue, boy it was wonderful, and all of a sudden we got a notice that the building had been sold. And all of us had to move!

Can you imagine, I had to give up my gorgeous salon! It was horrible, and then somebody told me about a shop about a mile away from where I lived in Westchester. I would take this long ride to Michigan Avenue and then to have to go only one mile away from where I lived, I

Margaret Vinci Heldt’s “Lady Bee” mannequin showing her original Beehive design.

PHOTOS: CHICAGO HISTORY MUSEUM

29

couldn’t believe it! So, I bought it! And you know how I advertised it?

“Bringing Michigan Avenue to the western suburbs.” It was good. My clientele—I didn’t expect this—they all had cars. They could care less if they headed east or they headed west, and they all came. Every one of my clients came to my new salon.

PS: Let’s talk about the Beehive hairstyle. How did you come up with the concept, and the name?

MVH: It was right after the War. The women looked like they do today— everybody had the long, straight hair; nothing on top. And so, the magazine that I was doing lots of work for, they always called me for ideas. And I was winning hair competitions all over, honest to goodness.

And so they called me and they said, “Margaret, the business is going to the pot. Come up with something different. Put some excitement into our profession.” What hadn’t been done before? Nothing. So, I went home, and I took out my little mannequin and I had put the children to bed and kissed my honey bunny husband and said “See you later,” and I went down in our family room and started to work on this mannequin. I didn’t know where I was going and in disgust, I took the brush and I put it in my mannequin’s hair and you know what happened? That hair went right around that mannequin! Ah! And I thought, “I can’t believe it, I don’t know of any hairstyle that has gone around the head, ever!” And so, I started to work on that. And it was taking the shape of a cone—bigger on the bottom and as it went up it got smaller. And, I thought, “That’s not bad. I’m going to tell them I think that I’m ready with something.” So I called and [the magazine] got me a beautiful model. When something’s going to go right, everything goes right. This lovely girl had the right amount of hair and I worked on her, and we were all pleased, and I looked at her and thought something was missing. Then I looked at the little hat I had worn and I saw this little black pin, this little ornament. I took it off of my hat and put it in the blonde model’s hair and it looked just like a beehive. The girl that was writing the story said, “Margaret, it looks just like a beehive!”

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PS: Did you know right away that it was a winner?

MVH: It took off like crazy!

Everybody loved it! The hairdressers loved it because it opened up an imagination that was dormant; they could start creating different things on the top of the head that could go up to the ceiling. It was an exciting time, a really exciting time. Everyone had their own interpretation of what it should look like. And the customers loved it because they could keep it in. It should be done every ten days, don’t go any longer.

PS: It really speaks to the popularity of the hairstyle that people had urban legends about it.

MVH: That’s true, but I think they were crazy and just trying to knock down something good. This is funny though: I would tell my customers when they’d go out, “Now you take good care of this because it will last for a while but you have to keep it clean. I don’t care what your husband does from the neck down, but don’t let him touch you from your neck up!” It was a good time of my life, yes.

Top: Singer and actress Barbra Streisand, November 10, 1964.

PHOTO: CBS PHOTO ARCHIVE/GETTY IMAGES

Bottom: Actress Audrey Hepburn poses as Holly Golightly in the 1961 movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

PHOTO: ASSOCIATED PRESS

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PS: What is the difference between the bouffant and the Beehive?

MVH: It’s all the difference in the world! The bouffant is just the opposite of the Beehive. The Beehive goes narrow and up to the ceiling, and the bouffant is wide and very beautiful, too. The bouffant came before the Beehive. So everything was wide and low, and the Beehive comes along just the opposite—narrow and up! Everybody knew that something happened that was really different. [Laughs] PS: Even today I found a news article in Chinese on the Beehive. Karl Lagerfeld used the Beehive in a fashion show recently, which is being replicated on the street. Why do you think the Beehive had such mainstream appeal in the 1960s that continues to this day?

MVH: I can’t believe it, and people want to know about the Beehive, and the stories that are coming out. It’s so nice to know that I was able to give something to our profession, and maybe to the world, and a legend to my family that is going to continue. The nicest thing that has happened out of this is was my professional association, Cosmetologists Chicago, they inducted me into the Hall of Fame a couple of years ago and they made a [scholarship] in my honor, and every year somebody will get go to school.

Isn’t that wonderful?

PS: How do you stay occupied these days?

MVH: When I turned 80, I thought, “Come on now, kiddo,” I was getting tired. I held up real good. And now I’m only two years away from the big 100. I’m enjoying my life. I’ve had a great life and I’m so blessed. I love where I’m at, not just assisted living but a wonderful place to live, in Lexington Square, one of the greatest home cares that we could get. And I can’t complain, I love every minute of my life. It sounds silly, but it isn’t, it’s the truth. I hope this gives hope to anyone else who is going into this phase in life.

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Margaret Vinci Heldt at her home in Elmhurst, Illinois with a photo of a model with the Beehive hairdo from the February 1960 edition of Modern Beauty Shop magazine.

PHOTO: AP PHOTO/CARYN ROUSSEAU

Who could ask for more? I’m so happy I was born, and I’m very happy that I’m still living, and I’ve got a nice family. Oh, my daughter, Carlene, she is such a sweetheart. And my son and his beautiful wife—I call her my daughter-of-love, not my daughter-in-law—Bill and Mary. The older grandkids are getting married, and now the young ones are coming in.

I’m expecting a set of twins who haven’t been born yet, we just know they’re coming! Isn’t that wonderful? I’ve got it made. I’m so grateful for everything good. ■ 33

Winter Birding Is the Best

by MELISSA MAYNTZ

M

any people associate good birding only with spring and summer, dreading fall migration when so many birds depart for distant locations. Depending on local habitats and natural resources available to birds, however, winter birding can be even better than the best summer hotspot. Even better still is to bring winter birds right to your yard for spectacular backyard birding no matter how cold it may get.

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Bohemian Waxwing PHOTO: 123RF

Winter is filled with flocks of great birds even if favorite summer species such as tanagers and buntings may have migrated away.

Year-round residents such as woodpeckers, jays, chickadees, titmice, cardinals, bluebirds, nuthatches, and some wrens and hummingbirds will still be around to see, and depending on where you live, other birds will arrive just as the temperatures drop.

In northern areas, winter finches migrate south from their Canadian and Arctic ranges and might appear in birding hotspots and at backyard feeders. Watch for siskins, redpolls, crossbills, evening grosbeaks, pine grosbeaks, and bohemian waxwings to visit as snow falls.

In southern regions, some favorite summer species may linger all year if the temperatures are mild.

Hermit thrushes, brown thrashers, cedar waxwings, kinglets, and many different sparrows are regularly found in the winter, as are yellowrumped, orange-crowned, and palm warblers.

Some popular birds, including dark-eyed juncos, are more frequently seen in winter as they expand their ranges much more

widely than in summer. Birders can also look forward to winter irruptions that may bring snowy owls, purple finches, northern shrikes, varied thrushes, and other birds into areas far from their typical ranges.

Winter birds can be found anywhere their basic needs for food, water, and shelter are met.

To meet those needs, many birds migrate south where tropical habitats are more lush and inviting during the winter months, but even chillier coastlines, swamps, and wetlands are suitable for many winter birds. In northern areas, habitats such as dense forests and sheltered canyons are havens for winter birds, and many Arctic species such as snow buntings and snowy owls prefer open, barren fields that better resemble their breeding habitat.

In southern areas that are graced with temperate climates, many more habitats are bird-friendly in winter. Florida, Arizona, southern California, and southern Texas have some of the best birding in winter, particularly as northern summer species overwinter in those areas, increasing the bird 35

diversity to be seen. In warmer areas that have dangerous summer temperatures or oppressive humidity, winter is the ideal time to go birding when the weather is milder and outdoor activities are more comfortable.

The best way to go birding in winter is to look out the window— with the right preparation, your winter backyard birding can be simply amazing. To bring winter birds right to you, you have to do exactly what any habitat does for birds—meet their needs for food, water, and shelter.

Dark-Eyed Junco PHOTO: MARK PLUMLEY/123RF

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Natural food sources are scarcer in winter, and birds will readily visit feeders that offer reliable meals and treats. High fat, high calorie foods such as suet, Nyjer (thistle), nuts, peanut butter, cracked corn, and sunflower seeds are best for a wide variety of birds in the coldest areas to provide them adequate energy to resist low temperatures. Millet is perfect for sparrows and juncos, and in southern areas, nectar and citrus fruits are ideal for many overwintering tanagers, hummingbirds, and warblers.

Birds always need water to stay hydrated and resist hypothermia, as well as to keep their feathers in top condition. Northern birds can melt snow and ice to meet their water needs, but that uses calories and energy that would be better spent maintaining body heat. A heated bird bath will provide fresh, liquid water for birds, and it should be kept clean and free of debris. In southern regions, bird bath fountains will resist breeding insects and the splashing noises and sparkles of drips will attract more birds to visit.

In the coldest areas, birds seek out cozy, closed spaces to conserve body heat through long winter

In addition to meeting birds’ survival needs in winter, there are other easy steps you can take to bring even more birds to your backyard.

Northern Cardinal

™ Keep feeders filled, even on stormy days, so birds learn they can rely on your feeders. ™ Clean feeders and baths regularly to minimize the risk of spreading diseases to flocks. ™ Take steps to keep cats out of your yard and to discourage feral cats from visiting. ™ Choose landscaping that will nurture birds, such as seedbearing flowers or berry bushes.

PHOTO: JOHN DUDAK/123RF

nights. Backyard birders can provide the perfect spots with dedicated roost boxes, or even just leaving clean, empty bird houses available for winter birds to use.

Small birds may even roost together to share body heat. Dense shrubbery, bushes, and evergreen trees are great options for shelter in any climate. A brush pile or discarded Christmas tree can also serve as extra shelter if needed.

Winter is often overlooked as a birding season, but by understanding what birds need, how they find it and how to help them, the coldest days can be the hottest for birding. ■ Melissa Mayntz is a Utah-based freelance writer and has been birding for more than 20 years. She loves and welcomes all the winter quail, finches, juncos, sparrows, doves and jays that visit her backyard. Learn more at MelissaMayntz.com.

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Filling Your Home With Life and Color

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I

n the winter months, houseplants can provide a bit of nature when the outdoors are less welcoming.

Plants inside your home create a wonderfully relaxing and welcoming ambiance that can have a positive effect on both your mental and physical health. Surrounding yourself with nature improves your home environment in many ways, and actually makes you happier.

During the dry winter months when the windows often remain closed, indoor plants add humidity to your environment, with certain types of plants having the added benefit of purifying the air by creating more oxygen and clearing out toxins. NASA set out to prove just how houseplants affect air quality. Together with the Associated Landscape Contractors of America (ALCA), The NASA Clean Air Study was conducted to determine if houseplants could be used as a tool to solve indoor air pollution problems here on Earth as well as in space stations. Their results show that plants can play a major role in removing chemicals (benzene, trichloroethylene, and formaldehyde) found in household cleaning products, synthetic fabrics,

paints, and building materials from indoor air. These pollutants can accumulate quickly in a closed interior space with limited ventilation. Depending on the amount and type of exposure, this can cause some discomfort or even illness for people.

In addition to the NASA and ALCA study, other researchers have found similar results with common houseplants reducing the amount of indoor pollutants. To maximize the benefit of air-cleaning plants in your home, you’ll want to have at least two full plants in 10- to 12-inch pots per 100 square feet of space.

Consider placing plants in close proximity to where you spend the most time such as on a desk, next to your bed, or in a window next to the kitchen sink.

Some of the most effective aircleaning houseplants are also the most affordable and easy to care for, including snake plants, spider plants, philodendrons, golden pothos, areca palms, peace lilies, and English ivy.

If you have access to a lot of sunlight in your home, consider an aloe plant. The gel of the aloe plant soothes skin burns and cuts, and the plant can help to not only clean 39

the air but to monitor the air quality in your home. When the amount of harmful chemicals in the air becomes excessive, the plant’s leaves will display brown spots.

Flowering houseplants can add color and fragrance to your home and many bloom year-round. Many varieties of begonias produce blooms throughout the year. Wax begonias and Rhizomatous begonias are versatile because they work both outdoors and before frost sets in they can be moved indoors with a south- or west-facing window in direct sun. Rieger begonias, a winter-flowering plant, require cool temperatures and short days with direct light to bloom. African violets need similar conditions as the Reiger begonias, and you can start new plants simply by cutting off a leaf

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and rooting it in moist potting mix.

Flowering maple is a fast-growing plant that is almost constantly in bloom, and can be quite festive with its colorful flowers.

Keeping your houseplants healthy requires some effort and care.

First, all plants need water. Stick to a watering schedule that should be designed based on your lighting and humidity level. In the winter, less water is required since plants are not actively growing. Many plants like to go slightly dry to the touch before being watered again.

It is not unusual to water your plants only weekly or even less in the winter. Water the base of the plant to strengthen the roots and stems, and spritz the leaves regularly.

Plants cannot be too dry when you fertilize them, so when it is time

to feed them, be sure they have adequate moisture for a few days before giving them plant food.

In addition to your container having holes, you should use rocks or drainage material. Water should not pool at the bottom of the container.

Every plant requires light to grow and flourish, and it is important to understand how much sun each type of plant requires. Full sun is only considered to be unblocked or unfiltered southern light, and western sunlight will also work.

If you have northern or eastern light, choose plants that need shade or partial sun. Make sure to clean the leaves—dust on leaves can block sunlight (likewise, make sure your windows are clean on both sides).

For the most part, plants do not like to be moved. In winter months, plants are resting, so wait to re-pot any plants until springtime. And when it does come time to re-pot, only go up one pot size, or no more than 2 inches larger.

Just like people, healthy plants are better able to ward off pests and disease than unhealthy ones. Be sure to inspect your plants, including the undersides of the leaves, for pests and disease. If you see something, try to identify the problem so that you can apply the proper treatment.

Caring for houseplants can be a low maintenance hobby that reaps a multitude of benefits and rewards.

Be sure to choose plants wisely based on the conditions of your home, then take delight in caring for your inside oasis. â–

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Wonders Never Cease NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC’S RARELY SEEN: Photographs of the Extraordinary

S

ometimes a photograph can be so incredible that it hardly seems believable and then it is unforgettable. For many of us, those very photographs came from the world-renowned National Geographic Society, packaged in the familiar magazine with its distinctive yellow border. For 126 years, National Geographic has published photography that captures once-in-a-lifetime moments, natural wonders, and little-seen objects from the far reaches of the globe. And because of it, we became armchair travelers.

When National Geographic magazine debuted in October 1888, it was a scholarly, scientific journal with the first photograph of a natural scene appearing in the March 1890 issue. In the 1920s and 1930s National Geographic had a series of firsts in both exploration and color photography, becoming the first US publisher to establish a color-photo lab and the first to publish underwater color photographs. The September 1959 issue introduced color on the cover, and then in 1962 it became the first to print an all-color issue, which it has 42

remained until this day. In the 1960s, National Geographic provided special assistance to NASA and their photographers took iconic images from the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo projects.

“Since the invention of the camera, the photographer’s role has been to make the unknown known,” National Geographic photographer Stephen Alvarez wrote in the foreword to the new book, National Geographic Rarely Seen: Photographs of the Extraordinary.

The book is a collection of several hundred dazzling images shot by

some of the world’s finest photographers, each capturing what very few get the chance to see for themselves, including 30,000-year-old cave art sealed from the public, animals near extinction, volcanic lightning, giant crystals that have grown to more than 50 tons, desert flowers that bloom just once a year, and even the engraving inside Abraham Lincoln’s pocket watch.

These are the photographs that stay in our minds and fueled our imaginations. Enjoy some of the photographs here....

VOLCANIC ERUPTION CARSTEN PETER/NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC, TANZANIA

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ICE FUMAROLE An ice tower dwarfs a climber as it belches gas and smoke on the flanks of Antarctica’s Mount Erebus. As heat carves out a cave on the volcano’s slope, escaping steam immediately freezes in the air, building these knobby towers.

GEORGE STEINMETZ/NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC, ANTARCTICA

FLAMINGO FLAMENCO As if controlled by an aerial designer, flamingos in the Gulf of Mexico naturally arrange themselves into, well, a flamingo. The image wasn’t easy to capture: The photographer, shooting from a helicopter, asked the pilot to carefully turn back to avoid startling the birds.

BOBBY HAAS/NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC, YUCATÁN PENINSULA, MEXICO

Opposite Top: CAVE OF CRYSTALS Glittering shafts of selenite stretch as long as 30 feet inside the Cave of Crystals. Two brothers found this subterrestrial labyrinth in 2000 while drilling 1,000 feet below ground. High humidity and scorching temperatures remained constant inside the cavern for millennia, creating the perfect conditions for these massive crystals to form.

CARSTEN PETER/NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC, MEXICO

Opposite Bottom: ELEPHANT CONNECTION Rajan the Asian elephant shares a moment with Nazroo, his mahout, or elephant driver, in the warm ocean waters off the Andaman Islands. A few elephants were brought here years ago to ferry logs— Rajan is the last one still swimming. Now retired, he only swims for fun.

(CESARE NALDI/NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC, ANDAMAN ISLANDS

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Above: WISTERIA WHIMSY Pink flowers cascade down from the oldest wisteria tree in Japan. Seen in Ashikaga Flower Park in Tochigi, it began growing around 1870.

Beams support the old and heavy branches, helping create the waterfall of color.

PETER LOURENCO/NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC, JAPAN

Opposite Top: PYGMY HIPPO A pygmy hippo (Choeropsis liberiensis) mother and calf share a tender moment in shallow water. The hippos’ thin, greenish-gray skin keeps them cool in their rainforest homes.

CYRIL RUOSO/NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC, WEST AFRICA

Opposite Bottom: TUMBLEWEED A tumbleweed soars through the air at the Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah. The invasive Russian thistle (Salsola tragus) came from the Eurasian steppes to overtake the American West.

■ JOHN BURCHAM/NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC, UTAH

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47

BOOKS FIC TION

THE PAST TESSA HADLEY

T

he Past is about the summer reunion of four middle-aged siblings—three sisters and a brother— in the English countryside at their grandparents’ decrepit home.

Gathered together with the siblings are the brother’s new wife, his teen-age daughter, one of the sister’s two small children, and the college-age son of another sister’s ex-boyfriend. One can immediately see the symbolism of “the past” in the house, and the looming decision to let it go or to hold onto it. It becomes the setting for the interactions between the siblings, who carry their family baggage in their personalities. They chafe at one another in petty ways that no one can understand nor change. The two outsiders, the new wife, and the ex-boyfriend’s son, serve as constant reminders of the larger world beyond the family. They are both resented and needed by the siblings.

48

A second secret place within this drama is a run-down, abandoned cottage hidden in the woods, which serves as the locus of hidden desires and fears. It is a source of conflict that remains unknown to the self-involved siblings, but is important to the two young children’s exploration of the confusing subjects of death and sexuality. It is also the place of a past event, which takes the reader to 1968, when the siblings were young and their mother had returned to her parents’ home during a brief separation with their father.

Ms. Hadley has a gift—she describes people and places in elegant prose that elevates the mundane. She also has penetrating insight into the psychological and emotional worlds of women and men, the young and old, and an ability to describe human flaws with compassion. ■

FUN & GAMES

Solutions on page 60

CROSSWORD PUZZLE 1

2

3 6

4 7

8

9

10

14

5

11

15

16

19

12

18

17

20

13

21

22

© ANY PUZZLE MEDIA LTD

23

ACROSS 1. Propose (5) 4. Good fortune (4) 6. Extended underside of a roof (4) 8. Standard (6) 9. Silent (3) 10. Cleopatra’s nemesis (3) 11. Join together (7) 14. Inane (7) 18. Brazil’s second-largest city (3) 19. Expression of horror (3) 20. Removing (6) 22. Epochs (4) 23. Mix a liquid (4) 24. Roughly (5)

24

DOWN 1. Pakistani spoken language (7) 2. Central Las Vegas area (5) 3. Ceylon, e.g. (3) 4. Feeble or pathetic thing (5) 5. Wit (5) 7. Plus (4) 11. Chicago summer time zone (inits) (3) 12. The Tonight Show network (inits) (3) 13. Believed (7) 15. Question (5) 16. Alternate (5) 17. Tiny amount (4) 18. Horned African animal (5) 21. Blind __ _ bat (2,1) 49

FUN & GAMES

Solutions on page 60

YOGA POSES Yoga Poses

C H R C G A N K G N B F E S C

H S C O R P I O N T P O C T L

R I R C S N W D C C P A N O A

C F L K S R A C R R E N T C L

BOW CAMEL BOW CHILD CAMEL COCKEREL CHILD COUCH COCKEREL COW FACE CRANE COUCH CROCODILE COW FACE CRANE CROCODILE 50

C O S E C N D O R R C C G C C

A D C R C O G L C O R B R O B

B T D E R E C C G H C C N O I

O S R L S R E H T R N N C F O

G G H D L I H C R U C O C R N

G S C G D E O O A B C I E A S

N O U H U R I T R F I L N E D

A C O T N O R L R A W C A C C

DANCER FISH DANCER FROG INSECT FISH PLOUGH FROG SCORPIONINSECT TORTOISEPLOUGH TREE SCORPION TORTOISE TREE

E N C A M E L I D O C O R C H

H C E E E L C P B U T R C C L

© ANY PUZZLE MEDIA LTD

O D A O A D L O A A G I E T A

SUDOKU Sudoku—also known as Number Place—is a logicbased, combinatorial numberplacement puzzle. The aim of Sudoku is to enter a number from 1 through 9 in each cell of a grid. Each row, column, and region must contain only one instance of each number.

LETTER SOUP Can you rearrange the floating letters below to spell out different elements of nature?

Each letter should be used exactly once in the resulting set.

1.

2. © ANY PUZZLE MEDIA LTD

3.

4.

8

6 2

1 4

8 9 5

5 1

9

2 7 3 6 4 4

1 3 5 8 2 3 6 4

7 8 1 3 4 7 2 1

S R AS EA HE I N NR I A L N R AA S CV S T P E LE OM T

w

5.

51

Illustrated by Jenny Campbell

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Š 2016 Highlights for Children, Inc. All rights reserved.

This snowman’s head is getting cold.

Can you help reach his hat?

Illustrated by Charles Jordan

Answer on page 61

Š 2016 Highlights for Children, Inc. All rights reserved.

53

APE

OSTRICH OWL PEACOCK SNAKE TAPIR TIGER TURTLE

Illustrated by Evan Polenghi

BAT BEAR BIRD CAMEL CHEETAH DEER EAGLE

ELEPHANT FISH FOX HIPPOPOTAMUS JAGUAR LION MONKEY ORANGUTAN

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© 2016 Highlights for Children, Inc. All rights reserved.

ICE SKATING

Illustrated by Maggie Swanson

Š 2016 Highlights for Children, Inc. All rights reserved.

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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016 HOROSCOPES by Chris Flisher

ARIES (March 21–April 19) Expect to witness a dramatic and surprising shift in your daily routine. You could be volunteering or offering your services to an innovative and unexpected venture. This fabulously welcome turn of events may put a spring in your step but not without some background work. You may have to delve into outside training or other skill-enhancement before you can step into a new role. The effort may be worth it though, since you may regain a sense of purpose. Remember that your occupation is not necessarily how you make money, but rather how you occupy your time.

TAURUS (April 20–May 20) Your focus during this period may be narrowed towards your spiritual center. You may be on the cusp of a great awakening, similar to an epiphany of sorts. While this may sound daunting you should 56

embrace this shift in thinking and step into this realm of awareness. Perhaps you join a group of like-minded people who are on a similar quest and you are able to take great comfort in the solidarity. Since you may have been accustomed to a train of thought in the past, you may be involved in some renewed soul-searching.

GEMINI (May 21–June 21) The months ahead may be perfect for recording your own personal history. Scrapbooking and storytelling may be valuable outlets for your journey. There may be nothing so marvelous as oral history as you pass on your memories to those eager to hear of your past. In this age of digital revolution, the tools are readily available to you and your gift of conversation may be the perfect vehicle for such an effort. If you can use this time to gather your

memories, those who follow on behind you will have a sense of their roots and you will secure a sense of accomplishment.

CANCER (June 22–July 22) Conversations with your partner or close friends may deepen as you review the value of connection with those who have known you best. Through odd sets of occurrences, you may come into contact with people from your past who have resurfaced at the most appropriate time in your life. These surprises may be a delightful recollection of times spent together and a rekindling of an old flame of affection. People who return to your daily view are meant to leave an imprint on your life in some meaningful way. Be on the lookout.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You are standing on the brink of a new lifestyle. This may be a

welcome shift that brings you to a whole new arena of influence and enjoyment. This is the type of engagement that may have involvement in spirituality or other intellectual pursuit. This same theme also applies to your mental and physical health so bear that in mind if you start to witness odd or unusual symptoms. There may be no reason to panic, but when in doubt, check things out. This may also be a time to step up or alter your exercise routine.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Self-expression may be an exciting and innovative method for releasing your inner self. The coming months are prime for you to step into an entirely new realm with regard to how you are creative.

You may be delving into details and learning new skills, but most especially writing and communicating in some manner.

One area that you may want to tap 57

into may be your family and its heritage. While there may be a real challenge to some of this self discovery, try and frame it in a positive light and reap what you can from this fruitful period.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You could be looking at a major transformation in your house and home during this time frame. You could be welcoming a new family member or seeing others off to a new locale. This may be a major transition for you and yet, one that is necessary for the continued evolution of your family.

Big changes may signal the decision to relocate or to downsize.

While these steps may be challenging on one level, they may also be entirely liberating on another. The more we resist change, the harder the task becomes. This may be a marvelous release that allows you more freedom and time for yourself.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) The coming months look to be excellent for finally getting some valuable and meaningful research and writing completed.

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You may be a natural talent for investigating and delving into difficult topics and this period appears to be quite a powerful period for you in that regard. With that in mind, you may find that a lot of financial information may be required in order for you to qualify for some aid or public service of some kind. Your skills are primed for this type of bureaucratic deep dive so strap on your glasses and see what lies hidden beneath the paperwork.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) Much of your time in the coming months may be devoted to re-aligning your long-term finances. That does not imply loss but rather a reallocation of investments. You may find that the markets have shifted drastically and what once worked for you no longer exists. You may also come to realize that your needs and goals have shifted accordingly.

This effort may require a long, hard look at your financial strategy and how it unfolds going forward.

Estate planning, wills, and insurance policies are all prime

for your examination during this period. The more research you can garner, the better your chances are for a successful return.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) The opening of the New Year not only pays homage to you, Capricorn, but it also signals a desire to look at new vistas of opportunity. Pluto, the great planet of transition, continues to stroll slowly through Capricorn so you can expect to witness a fairly bold departure as the time marches on.

With your strong work ethic and principled sense of duty, you may opt to stray off in a new direction that feels more familiar to your inner self and more in keeping with your true destiny. There may be work involved in this discovery, but that is one of the things you do best.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) Your time of year has arrived and with it comes an opportunity to set off in an entirely new direction. This may be a period where you see doors and opportunities closing only to share in a few new ones opening. This

theme may involve working with others in charitable organizations or simply working within a group setting. It is with others that you may excel especially if you embrace large themes that aid others. While this could be a far cry from what you thought you might be encountering, you may also view it as an exciting time to be starting something new.

PISCES (Feb. 19–March 20) Organizations that you are a part of may be the area where you may see the most activity over the coming months. Groups and associations are primed to be on the top of your list. You may be seeing dramatic changes in existing groups or a shift towards incorporating more members. This can be an exciting and vibrant time where change and new blood bring out the best in the group. You may have to log some hours behind the scenes to make things work as you see necessary but the efforts may be plentiful and enjoyable.

© 2015 Chris Flisher 59

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The driver responded, “The darnedest thing! I just stopped at a light back there and they climbed into my car. Now I don’t know what to do!”

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The driver said, “That’s a good idea—I’ll do that!”

A week later, the driver pulled into the same gas station and the attendant again saw the five penguins in the back seat, only now they were wearing sunglasses. The attendant asked, “What happened? I thought I told you to take those penguins to the zoo?”

“We did go, and we had a great time! Today, we’re going to the beach!”

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